Matter of Allaoo R. (Gabriel R.)

Holding The court affirmed the termination of the father’s parental rights on the ground of abandonment, finding that he failed to visit or communicate with the child or petitioner for the statutory six-month period. The court held that the father’s incarceration did not excuse his failure to maintain contact and that he failed to prove that the petitioner prevented or discouraged such contact.

The court’s words

the father did not visit with the child, did not provide any financial support to the child, did not inquire about the child's medical appointments, and did not communicate with the child's caretakers or caseworker

2026 NY Slip Op 04720, at the official text

the father's period of incarceration does not excuse his failure to contact the child or petitioner

2026 NY Slip Op 04720, at the official text

it was [the father's] burden, which he failed to meet, to show that there were circumstances rendering contact with the child or [petitioner] infeasible, or that he was discouraged from doing so by [petitioner]

2026 NY Slip Op 04720, at the official text